Abdominopelvic Actinomycosis—The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge of the Most Misdiagnosed Disease

Abstract

Abdominopelvic actinomycosis is a rare chronic or subacute bacterial infection caused by Actinomyces israelii, a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium that normally colonizes the digestive and genital tracts, clinically presented as an inflammatory mass or abscess formation. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of the patients from our clinic with abdominopelvic actinomycosis who underwent surgery between 2002 and 2022. In this period, 28 cases (9 men and 19 women) were treated. The mean age was 43.36 years and they were hospitalized for abdominopelvic tumors or inflammatory tumors in 15 cases and inflammatory disease in 13 cases. Results: Causes of actinomycosis in the studied group were an intra-uterine contraceptive device in 17 cases, foreign bodies in 2 cases, diabetes in 4 cases, stenting of the bile duct in 1 case, and immunodepression. For 6 patients, we performed surgery by open approach and for 21 patients by a laparoscopic approach. For nine patients, abdominopelvic actinomycosis had been mimicking a colon malignancy (cecum and ascending colon, four cases; transverse colon, two cases; and on the greater omentum, three cases) and for six patients, a pelvic tumor (advanced ovarian cancer). After surgery the patients underwent specific treatment with antibiotics, with good results. In two cases we discovered and treated hepatic actinomycosis, one case by a laparoscopic approach and one case by a percutaneous approach. In our lot we noticed three recurrences that required reintervention in patients who had had short-term antibiotics due to non-compliance with treatment out of four such cases. Conclusions: For abdominopelvic malignancies, actinomycosis should be included in the differential diagnosis, as well as for inflammatory bowel diseases and bowel obstructions. We have a wide range of patients considering the rarity of this condition. Long-term antibiotics are necessary to prevent recurrence.